Parliament special sitting makes a mockery of democracy - Sepang MP

 

Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin has claimed that MPs rights are being stripped from them during the next parliamentary session, as it will exclude a question-and-answer session for lawmakers to raise specific concerns and issues.

The session scheduled for July 26 was denoted as a special sitting and deemed not “proper” by the MP, as it has to be considered an officiation ceremony to commemorate the first 2021 parliamentary session.

“According to the statement issued by the Perikatan Nasional government dated July 5, 2021, the parliamentary session that is to be in two weeks is merely a conference or a special session when it should be a ‘proper’ parliamentary session. That is the demand of the constitution in a country where the constitution is supreme.

“Since the 2021 parliamentary session has yet to be officiated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong - an important component in this country’s Parliament - the scheduled session should be considered the king's official inauguration of the 2021 parliamentary session, as per the Federal Constitution,” said the former deputy minister in charge of legal affairs in the Pakatan Harapan government.

However, Hanipa (above) said MPs have yet to be notified of the officiation ceremony scheduled for that date.

“Logically, when the government announces they intend on having a special session or meeting, it usually means that it is a session intended for a specific purpose,” he added.

No Question Time session

Meanwhile, Hanipa claimed that the special sitting would not include a question-and-answer session amongst ministers (MQT), adding that it suppresses democracy within the parliament.

MQT sessions allow MPs to submit oral and written questions in advance to the Secretaries of the House for them to raise issues and concerns to certain ministries.

“If the government wants to only hold a special sitting, it usually means that there will be no question-and-answer session with the ministers and deputy ministers, which is usually held from 10am to 11.30am, Mondays and Wednesdays.

“If there is an MQT session - question and answer sessions between ministers only - it will begin from 10 am to 10:30 am which will then be extended to 12 noon,” he said.

Hanipa recounted MQT parliamentary sessions under the previous government whereby former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad would occasionally attend these sessions to address issues raised.

“When the late Liew Vui Keong and I were entrusted to take care of parliamentary affairs, we successfully convinced the prime minister to come to Parliament for the purpose of answering MPs' questions during the MQT session.

“The prime minister felt like it was important to address the issues himself,” said Hanipa, adding that they were working towards weekly question and answer sessions with the prime minister, before the change in administration.

Hanipa also expressed doubts about the upcoming parliamentary sitting.

“For the special sitting starting July 26, it seems that all (these initiatives) will unfortunately not be present.

“If there was, a written notice would have already been sent to us MPs to ask our questions.

“The MPs generally do not want to miss the opportunity of this session, but it, unfortunately, seems like our rights are being taken away,” he lamented.

Supplementary budget

Hanipa also called for a parliamentary discussion on the nation’s supplementary budget.

“We are aware that the government has spent the country’s money, the people’s money, therefore the spending must inevitably be debated in Parliament.

“It is important that a supplementary budget be tabled for discussion and approval. That is a legal requirement.

“This is because the money belongs to the state or the people. Failure to do so can be construed as a breach of trust and a crime.

“Again, unfortunately, we do not see this happening at the special sitting. Where is the accountability policy?” Hanipa asked. - Mkini